The following definitions may include references to other terms defined herein, and are identified by Italicized text:
ABANDONED SIGN: | A sign or Support Structure remaining on a site absent of a display permitted within this Chapter for ninety (90) days or longer. |
AWNING/CANOPY SIGN: | A sign permanently mounted, painted, or attached to an awning, canopy, or marquee.  |
BACKLIT ILLUMINATION: | A method of internal illumination by which the sign is lit from within and light is projected back onto the supporting surface to create a halo effect around the sign copy. Also commonly known as “halo illumination”.  |
BANNER: | A sign constructed of lightweight flexible material.  |
BARE BULB ILLUMINATION: | Exposed or uncovered lighting elements used for illumination of a sign, including but not limited to exposed light bulbs.  |
BLADE SIGN (PROJECTING SIGN): | A sign which extends out from a building face or wall, often in a perpendicular manner; also called a Projecting Sign.  |
CABINET (BOX) SIGN: | A sign which includes a frame or box-like external structure which encloses the functional elements of the sign, including internal illumination, where the sign content is affixed on a face/panel. Also called a Box Sign. This definition of a cabinet (box) sign does not include push-through letter cabinet signs.  |
CHANGEABLE COPY SIGN: | A component of a sign that features changeable text, characters, and/or illustrations that allows the sign’s display to be amended, updated or otherwise modified. Electronic message boards are a type of changeable copy sign.  |
CHANNEL LETTER SIGN: | A sign comprising internally illuminated individual letters, numbers, or symbols that are independently mounted to a wall or raceway. |
CONSTRUCTION SIGN: | A sign which functions to identify or announce an upcoming construction project, which may include renderings or the purpose for which the building is intended.  |
DEVELOPMENT IDENTIFICATION SIGN: | A sign which identifies a commercial planned unit development, existing commercial center, or an overall commercial development. Development Identification Signage is used to accommodate those locations where the collection of business (either based on symmetry of use, site design, or aesthetics) is considered a destination for which an identification sign is helpful as a location navigation reference.  |
DIRECTIONAL SIGN: | A sign which includes physical characteristics used to identify the location or direction of an activity, service, use, point of access or similar feature.  |
DWELL TIME: | The time that a single message on a Changeable Copy display is held static or constant, without any change in the message or image displayed. |
FLAG: | A piece of cloth or similar material typically attached by one edge to a pole or rope used as a symbol or as a signal.  |
FRONTAGE: | A strip or extension of land abutting a public or private roadway (excluding drive aisles), unless otherwise defined within this Chapter. |
GROUND SIGN: | A sign which is permanently attached to the ground and may be completely or principally supported by one or more posts or other Support Structure, which is not attached to the principal building on the property. Ground sign types include monument, pole, etc.  |
HAND HELD SIGN: | Signs that are not self-supporting and are carried, supported or under the immediate control of a human being. |
HISTORICAL MARKER: | A sign that displays or identifies historical interest.  |
INFLATABLE: | An object or device that can be filled with air or gas. |
INFORMATIONAL SIGN: | A sign designed and located to be viewed exclusively by pedestrians when navigating a campus, district, or within the confines of a building.  |
INSTITUTIONAL USES: | Schools, religious and not-for-profit land uses as defined within this Ordinance. |
MONUMENT SIGN: | A type of Ground Sign which is permanently attached to the ground and anchored by a Support Structure a minimum of eighty percent (80%) of the width of the sign.  |
NITS: | A unit of luminance equal to one candela per square meter. |
NON-PLANAR SIGNS: | Spherical, free-form, sculptural or similar signs. |
OFF PREMISES SIGN: | A sign which directs attention to a product and/or service sold, offered, created, furnished, or conducted at a location not directly associated with the property or site at which the sign is located. |
OUTDOOR ADVERTISING SIGN: | A sign providing display space for general commercial advertising not related to the premises on site at which the sign is located; commonly referred to as “billboards”.  |
OUT LOT/ OUTBUILDING: | A secondary lot or structure not physically connected to the principal use of the development or property. |
PEDESTRIAN WALL SIGN: | A type of Wall Sign designed and installed specifically for pedestrian viewing, often enclosed in a glass frame, including but not limited to menus, events, services, schedules, etc.  |
POLE SIGN: | A type of Ground Sign which is supported by a pole structure extended from the ground.  |
PORTABLE SIGN: | A category of signs designed to be easily moved from place to place and often containing a Changeable Copy Sign element.  |
POST SIGN: | A type of Ground Sign mounted on a single or multiple support posts, as differentiated from a Pole Sign based on the supports serving as an essential design/decorative element of the sign.  |
QUALIFYING FAÇADE: | Qualifying facades include facades that directly face public and private streets, sidewalks, alleys, courtyards, and parking lots |
RACEWAY: | The structural support of a Wall Sign. |
ROOF SIGN: | A sign located on or attached to the roof of a structure. |
SHOPPING CENTER: | A series of retail establishments with individual entrances, sharing a common wall and common off street parking. |
SIDEWALK SIGN: | A Portable Sign that is easily movable and displayed during operating hours of entity advertised; also called a Sandwich Board sign.  |
SIGN: | Any object, device, display or structure, or part thereof, which is used to advertise, identify, display, direct or attract attention by any means including words, printed text, letters, figures, designs, symbols, pictures, fixtures, colors, motion, illumination or projected images for the purpose of delivering a message. |
SIGN AREA,GROUND: | The area in square feet of the smallest geometric figure which encloses the sign display. |
SIGN AREA, WALL: | The combined area of an imaginary rectangle, circle, triangle, or parallelogram drawn around the sign elements. The area of a Wall Sign shall include the frame or cabinet structure. |
SIGN, COMMERCIAL: | Display of speech on behalf of a company or individual for the intent of making a profit. Commercial speech is economic in nature intended to identify, advertise, or direct attention to a business service or product. |
SIGN, DISTINCTIVE MATERIALS / DESIGN: | Custom-made signs that use only external lighting and do not include a raceway or visible electrical housing and that are constructed primarily of the following materials or methods:  |
1. Ceramic tile-painted or sandblasted. | |
2. Wood-carved or sandblasted. | |
3. Metal-formed, etched, cast, or engraved; | |
4. Brick or stone with recessed or raised lettering. | |
5. Other similar high-quality, exterior-grade materials approved by the Zoning Administrator. | |
SIGN, NON-COMMERCIAL: | Display which is devoid of any commercial signage. |
SIGN, PIN-MOUNTED CHANNEL LETTER: | A wall sign mounted directly on the face of a building wall as individual letters, numbers, or symbols without a raceway or background other than the background provided by the building to which the sign is affixed. In order to qualify for the sign area ratios established for pin-mounted channel letter signs, pin-mounted channel letter signs must not be illuminated or be illuminated only by external lighting. Pin-mounted channel letter signs with other forms of illumination are subject to raceway-mounted channel letter sign area ratios.  |
STRUCTURAL ALTERATION | Any change in the supporting members of a structure such as bearing walls or partitions, columns, beams, or girders, excepting such alterations as may be required for the safety of the structure. |
SUPPORT STRUCTURE: | Any structure or material which supports or is capable of supporting or keeping a sign in a stationary position, including foundation. |
TEMPORARY SIGN: | A sign constructed and intended for a temporary period of display and is neither permanently installed in the ground nor permanently affixed to a building, structure, wall or perimeter fencing.  |
WALL SIGN: | A sign attached or erected against a wall of a building or structure with the exposed face of the sign parallel to the plane of the wall designed to be visible from the property frontage.  |
WALL SIGN, SECONDARY BUSINESS: | A wall sign to be used for a secondary commercial business located inside a primary business establishment. |
WINDOW SIGN: | A sign installed inside, painted upon, or placed against a window for purposes of viewing from outside the premises, excluding merchandise located in a window display.  |
YARD SIGN: | A type of Temporary Sign placed upon or inserted into the ground independently of any other structure, but not including any Sidewalk Sign.  (Ord. 2021-4931, 11-15-2021; amd. Ord. 2022-4972, 8-1-2022; Ord. 2023-5042, 12-18-2023) |